Copa del Rey: Real Madrid 2-2 Atletico Madrid - 5 talking points

Two goals, inside the first minute in each half, by Fernando Torres was enough for Atletico to win 4-2 on aggregate and secure safe passage into the quarter final of the Copa del Rey. After opening the scoring inside the opening minute of the game, the visitors had their backs to the wall for the rest of the half as the home side poured forward in search of a goal.Sergio Ramos’ header brought the tie level, but Torres’ goal in the first minute of the second half made it 4-1 to Atletico. Although Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 34th goal of the season, Atletico hung on.Here are the major talking points:

#1 Lack of concentration costs Real the tie

Having lost 2-0 in the first leg, Los Blancos had a mountain to climb if they were to go through to the quarter-finals. But if any side could score three goals, it is this Real side who average almost four goals in the last three months. But although they created plenty of chances in the first half, it was their inability to concentrate at the back that led to their tame exit.

If conceding a goal inside the first minute of the game was bad, then repeating the same in the second half is simply criminal. Once Torres' second went in, the task went from improbable to almost impossible. Scoring four goals against Atletico isn't easy, even more so when you have to do it inside 45 minutes. Although Ronaldo scored quickly afterwards, this was a mountain that become too big to climb, even for a side of Real's attacking prowess.

#2 Are we witnessing the re-emergence of Torres?

When Torres was scoring goals for fun at Liverpool, many thought that he will never stop and go onto become one of the leading foreign goal scorers in the Premier League history. But his time at Chelsea, although successful in terms of trophies was one, where he simply lacked the confidence to take his chances. His return to his boyhood club has seen the return of that swagger and that confidence.

Although he didn't do much, aside from his two goals, the manner in which he scored both goals will please the fans and the manager to no end. The calmness and the composure he displayed for both goals, was something that has been missing in his game since his Liverpool days and perhaps the return to Atletico was just what he needed, to rediscover the confidence that made him one of the world's most lethal strikers.

#3 Real masters of their own downfall

After gifting the opposition two goals in the opening minutes of both halves, Ancelotti will want his side to relearn defending 101. For all of their threat going forward, Real looked hopeless at the back at times. The hosts made some schoolboy errors and were lucky to not concede more than two goals.

Sergio Ramos, in particular was guilty of gifting possession back to Atletico several times. Torres profited from it for the second goal and on another day, the home side could have very easily conceded three or four goals. Their inability to make simple passes out of defence meant that as the game went on, they became increasingly frustrated and started to hack the visitors down.

#4 Simeone makes all the right moves

After making a big tactical mistake against Barcelona on Sunday, all eyes were on Diego Simeone to see if he will learn from his mistake. After another fantastic away performance, the Argentine showed just why he is regarded one of the game's best tacticians. After a first-half that saw his side defend their 18-yard box with determination and discipline, many wondered whether they could maintain it for 90 minutes.

But their second-half performance, one in which Simeone rang the changes, saw his side regain control of the game and create much of the better chances. Whether it was taking Torres off, when he was on a hat-trick and bringing on Arda Turan to bring more control, or taking off Antoine Griezmann and playing with no strikers, his decisions paid off as Atletico booked a quarter-final clash with Barcelona.

#5 Not all bad news for Real

Going out of the Cup, especially at the hands of your bitter rivals is bound to hurt. But, in the grand scheme of things, this might not be a bad result after all. While a club of Real Madrid's stature would want to win every trophy, going out of the Copa del Rey now means that they can shift their focus elsewhere. Having already played over 30 games across six competitions this season, exit from this competition will provide the players with some much rest.

Although Ancelotti's main focus will be to become the first team to retain the UEFA Champions League, his side still lead the League by a point with a game in hand, and with the fire power they have, you wouldn't bet on them doing a League and European Cup double and finishing the season on a stronger note.